Glass-making apparatus.



PATENTED APR. 25, 1905.

R. S. PEASE. GLASS MAKING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16. 1902.

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PATENTED APR. 25, 1905,

R. S. PHASE.

GLASS MAKING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16. 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented April 25, 1905.

PATENT @FFIcE,

ROGER SHERMAN PFASE, OF ROSE, MlNNICSOlL i.

GLASS-MAKlNG APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of. Letters Pa en No. 788,143, dated April 25, 1905.

Application filed July 16,1902. Serial No, 115,860.

To rr/l //'71 um 17 may (one/W11.-

lie it known thatl, Roouu SHERMAX Pnasn, a citizen of the United States, residing at hose, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota. have invented certain new and useful improvements in Glass-Waking Apparatus, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention pertains to manufacture of glass, and is designed more particularly for the production of window-glass, though applicableto the production of glass bodies of a great variety of forms.

In its details the apparatus here illustrated is susceptible of considerable variation. 1 have, however, illustrated a simple and eliicient form of apparatus sufficient to make clear the underlying principles and mode of Opfiltltltlll and containing everything necessary for the rapid and economical manufacture of glass of fine quality.

ieferring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a similar view showing the formation of the initial bulb or enlargcmentof the chilled or partially-set hollow glass film or body; Fig. 3, a view showing a manner of clamping or grasping the bulb or enlargement formed by the initial blowing preparatory to elevating the same; Fig. i, a viewillustrating-theeffect of further blowing coupled with elevation of the clamp and expanded bulb; Fig. 5, a similar view showing the manner in which the upper portion of the bulb tinally separates itself from the lower portion and acting as a bait draws up from the molten mass the desired cylinder or body of glass.

In the drawings, A indicates thebed, floor, or bottom of a chamber or working space, which may be housed in or inclosed in any suitablemanner or leftopen, as desired. This will preferably be made of tire-clay or of such preparation as is employed in glass-tanks and for the manufacture of melting-pots and the like, or it may be made of other suitable material.

B indicates a vessel which may be of any convenient or desired form, but which is preferably made of dishing shape, as shown, and

is formed with hollow walls to admit of the introduction of water or other cooling medium. It may be lixed in position or adapted to rise and fall to and from its working position for convenience in cleaning, repairing, etc. This is a mere matter of detail, which being common in the construction of apparatus of this character it is not deemed necessary to show or furtherdescribe. u and indicate inlet and outlet pipes for the cooling agent. For the purpose of maintaining molten glass or metal in its molten condition and of constant fluidity gas-lmrners (1 maybe provided, or other means of heating may be supplied. These also being well known are simply indicated in conventional form.

At some convenient point within the vessel 13 there is located a core or projection D, here represented as in the form of a hollow or tubular plunger passing vertically through a central opening in the vessel B, this being the preferred 'form. \Vithin the core or plunger l) and extending axiallythrough the same is a pipe /I, which serves as the blowing-pipe, through which is introduced air or other gas under pressure. This pipe may receive its pressure fluid through a hose 5 or other suitable connection. The space between the shell or body of the core or plunger D and the central tube or pipe 11 serves to receive water or other cooling medium by which the core or plunger may be kept cool and caused to serve, as do the inner walls of the vessel B, as a chill to cause the partial setting or chilling of a lilm or layer of glass lying immediately in contact therewith. Pipes 0 and f serve, respectively, for the ingress and egress of water or other cooling agent.

Directly over the core or plunger l) there is suspended by a chain or other flexible band or cable a clamp 1*], which may be of anyconvenicnt form. A chain or cable 71 passes over a sheave or pulley f and thence to any suitable winding or hoisting device, which will preferably be such as to enable the operator to effeet a regular and uniform rise of the clamp E or to suddenly accelerate or to lessen the speed, as circumstances may require. The form of the clamp and of the hoisting mechanism is wholly unimportant and may be va- 1 ried as fancy may suggest or conditions dictate.

The apparatus being constructed as above set forth, its operation is as follows: Molten glass is supplied to the vessel B and to any suitable depth, according to the conditions 1 ture and consequent fluldity of the metal remain unchangedthere will be no material or under which the plant is operated. In practice it may advantageously rise somewhat above the meeting line of the floor A and vessel B, so that the upper stratum of glass may be free from any chilling effect, while the portion in contact with the walls of vessel B and with the central core or plunger D will be chilled or partially set, producing a relatively tough or tenacious layer or film j. as indicated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and L. The materials or batch for the production of the glass may be introduced into and melted in the vessel B; but it is preferred to pour or run the molten glass into said vessel from pots, tanks,or other source of supply where the melting and fining can be more advantageously carried on. The molten glass being supplied to the vessel B and its level raised above the top of core or plunger D or said plunger lowered to produce the same result,air or gas under regulated pressure is introduced through pipes g and (Z and caused to escape at the upper end of the core or plunger D immediately beneath the film j, lying over and upon said core. The effect of the air or gas thus introduced is to produce a bulb or swell ll; from the glass film on the upper end of the core or plunger, as shown in Fig. 2. This being raised by its expansion to a point above the level of the molten glass, (ordinarily, though not necessarily,) the clamp E is lowered to and caused to engage with such bulb or swell and is at once drawn upward, thereby tending to draw out or elongate the film lying upon and about the core or plunger D. The introduction of air or other pressure fluid being continued and, if need be, augmented, the glass film, still quite tenacious, is expanded and stripped from the core or plunger, taking the form illustrated in Fig. at or approximately such form, the shape varying somewhat according to the fluidity of the metal, the rate of elevation of the clamp, and the regulation of the fluid-pressure within the bulb. As the bulb enlarges and as the film is stripped from the core D, and thus removed from the chilling action of said core or plunger, it becomes softened by the heat of the surrounding mass of molten glass or metal and thins out gradually from the bottom of the mass of molten metal, as indicated in Fig. 1, until finally a separation takes place at said level and the lower portion of the bulb is melted into and united with the mass of metal below. \Vhile this is taking place the upper portion of the bulb, which having been exposed to the air has become firmly set and rigid, continues to move upward, and in accordance with the well-known action of glass blowing 5 or drawing draws from the molten metal below a cylinder of glass having just the diameter and the thickness of the skirt or depending edge of said upper portion of the bulb. If conditions be maintained constantthat is to say, if the rate of elevation and the temperaappreciable variation in the thickness of the cylinder, however long it may become. It is practicable by this method to draw the cylinder to any length permitted by the overhead space and by the strength of the bait. This being of fair thickness-such, for instance, as double-thick window-glass and upward the strength of the bait in the form shown will be great, and the cylinder may be drawn to any length that could possibly be desired in actual glass-making.

I have devised means for handling the glass cylinders after they are drawn and severed from the metal below; but as these are not essential to the matter herein set forth I shall not show or describe them herein, but may present the same in other applications.

It will be observed that by the apparatus and the mode of operation above set forth I produce for each tube or cylinder to be drawn a bait suited to that particular cylinder, whether larger or smaller, and I form the same from the same mass of metal from which the cylinder is subsequently formed. In this way I avoid the necessity of separate molding apparatus or independent blowing for the production of the baits; I produce the bait at the time it is wanted and of the precise dimensions needed, and, lastly, I make it of the same stock or of the same supply of glass as that from which I draw the tubes or cylinders, so that there can be no possible variation in the ratio of expansion and contraction as between the metal and the cylinder proper. Hence there will be no tendency or liability to crack the cylinder at the point of union with the bait. This cracking is a serious obstacle to the use of baits of other materials or otherwise produced.

Details of construction not herein specifically set forth may be varied as desired.

I have represented the core or plunger as provided with means whereby to raise and lower it, and this may be found quite desirable in practice. It, however, is not essential, and the showing is merely for the purpose of more fully explaining the plan and its possible application.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In apparatus for making glass, the combination of a receptacle to contain molten glass or metal; means for chilling a layer or film of glass or metal in said vessel; and means for introducing air or gas under pressure beneath IIO said film and thereby producing a bulb or hollow globule. substantially as described.

2. In apparatus for making glass. the combination of a vessel or receptacle to contain molten glass or metal; a central core rising within said receptacle; means't'or cooling said core and thereby forming a film of partiallyset or chilled glass over and about the same;

and means for introducing air or gas under pressure within or beneath the film thus formed and thereby forming a bulb or enlargement of said film, substantially as described.

ln apparatus for making glass, the combination of a vessel or receptacle to contain molten glass or metal; a core rising within said vessel; means for cooling or chilling said core; a tube or pipe for the introduction of air or gas under pressure at the top of the core; and a lifting device above said core, said parts being constructed and arranged substantially as described. whereby a film of glass lying over and about said core may be partially set or chilled. expanded to form a bulb, grasped and lifted by the hoisting device and further 1 expanded, and finally drawn upward in the form of a cylinder, substantially as described.

l. The herein-described apparatus for the manu t'acture of glass, comprising a receptacle B adapted to receive within its walls a cooling medium; a central core or body D; a pipe (I passing through the core and opening at the upper end thereof to permit the introduction of air or gas under pressure at said point; a clamp or gripping device 1*] located above the core; and hoisting devices connected with said clamp. all substantially as shown.

5. In combination with vessel 13. core D adapted to be cooled or chilled; means for elevating or lowering said core; and a pipe (7 within said core, adapted to convey air or gas under pressure to the top of the core, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In apparatus for drawing glass the combination of the receptacle arranged to contain the molten glass of means for chilling a layer or film ot' the glass in said vessel and means for expanding the lilm to produce a hollow bait; substantially as described.

7. ln glass-drawing apparatus, a vessel arranged to contain molten glass, a core within the receptacle arranged to form a film of chilled glass and means for raising and expanding the film to form a glass bait; substan tially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROGER SHERMAN PHASE.

'itncsses:

Ur'rox I-I. RIDHNOUR, J12, HORACE A. Doneu. 

